LAST Christmas, Gavin and Stacey was the TV show everyone was waiting for, and now there’s another autumn treat to delight fans.
But rather than just standing outside of Trinity Street when you head to Barry Island to take a look around the filming locations, you can actually book to stay inside one of the famous houses used on the show.
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You can book to stay in the ‘Lush House’ on Trinity Street in WalesCredit: Skye CottagesIt was the home of Doris, and then Gavin and Stacey themselves in later episodesCredit: BBC
The home in question is called ‘Lush House’ (of course), which fans will recognise as Doris’ home used in the original series and last year’s finale.
You can now book out the entire house on Trinity Street with Sykes Cottages.
Inside you’ll find a kitchen fitted with everything you need for your stay – including a hob for whipping up one of Gwen’s signature omelettes.
There’s a cosy lounge with bright orange chairs and a squishy-looking sofa with a working fireplace.
Spend some time on Whitmore Bay, in the arcade on the slots, or grab a coffee from Marco’s Cafe.
Inside is a bright lounge with orange chairs and a comfy sofaCredit: Skye CottagesThere’s a large dining room with space for the whole familyCredit: Skye Cottages
Barry Island Pleasure Park is bound to be a hit with the kids – take a ride on the Giant Wheel, zip down the Log Flume, and head onto the spooky Ghost Train.
THERE are some places that thrive in the summer, but others are best explored when there are crisp orange leaves on the ground, and the grass is littered with frost.
On my recent adventure to Northumberland, I discovered sprawling National Parks, living museums, quaint village and plenty of cosy pubs.
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Northumberland is even better in November – especially for autumn walksCredit: AlamyYou can take a stroll past where the Sycamore Gap once stoodCredit: Alamy
My adventure took me to the site of the former Sycamore Gap tree – the story that seemed to upset the entire nation.
The famous tree was mysteriously cut down in the middle of the night in September 2023. Something about the hateful environmental crime captured the public imagination globally.
Before and after pictures appeared in the media around the world and tears were shed.
It would later emerge that the 120-year-old specimen tree – which had featured in the 1991 Robin Hood film as well as countless holiday snaps – had been felled by two oddball friends as some kind of warped prank.
The pair were eventually jailed this summer for four years and three months each.
The episode initially seemed to spell the end of one of the North East’s greatest tourist attractions – but in fact it hasn’t.
The following year, the area earned nine per cent more from recreational visitors than it had before the tree was felled.
But if that makes it sound like the area is overrun with tourists, it isn’t. Not at all.
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Unlike rivals such as the Lake and Peak Districts or the Yorkshire Dales, rural Northumberland doesn’t have quite as much mass appeal and it’s big and desolate enough to absorb the visitors it does get, so seldom feels busy.
Autumn is a particularly good time to go because the landscape and vernal colour palette seem to blend harmoniously together.
I love walking in Northumberland and found great pubs along the wayCredit: John SturgisThe local drinking holes are cosy in the autumn with crackling log firesCredit: John Sturgis
If you go at low season (and now that half-term week has passed, that’s pretty much right now) you will find it feels most of the time as if you have the place to yourselves.
And it won’t cost much either – there’s excellent value for money.
Like the Sycamore Gap itself, much of what you will see is dotted along or near Hadrian’s Wall, the 2000-year-old fortification line that snakes its way up hill and down dale through all this glorious countryside.
And, of course, it joins up various other Roman sites that pepper the area with historic interest.
Our favourites were Vindolanda, an excavated village, the museum at Corbridge and the Temple of Mithras which has a counterpart in the buzzing heart of the City of London.
But naturally this one has a very different vibe as it’s out on its own on windswept moorland, miles from anywhere – and so superbly atmospheric.
We based ourselves in an Airbnb in converted outbuildings of a farm just outside the small town of Riding Mill, about 20 miles to the east of the Gap.
Dogs are allowed back on beaches during the low season tooCredit: John Sturgis
It was modestly priced but very pleasant and made an ideal base when motoring.
A couple of times we went east towards Newcastle or Beamish museum, with its charming recreation of streets and buildings from different periods.
We could also explore the coast, from the sweeping sands at Tynemouth to the more dramatic cliffs northwards.
Heading inland to the west it was more remote. Even at more managed spaces like the stunning National Trust park at Allen Banks, we scarcely saw another walker.
Our dogs loved it as much as we did. And after every walk we seemed to find ourselves conveniently close to a decent pub.
The area teems with them. I even compiled a top ten of the many boozers we went to during our week in Northumberland.
Here are John’s top 10 pubs in Northumberland…
1. Lord Crewe Arms, Blanchland – Ancient, spooky, cosy, perfect.
2. The Ship Inn, Low Newton – Understated gem on a gem of a beach
3. The Rat, Anick – Just a perfect country food pub.
10. The Sun Inn, Beamish Museum, Stanley – Technically a fake pub in a theme park- but so well done
It’s still worth going to see the former site of the Sycamore GapCredit: John Sturgis
Pubs aside, there was still the question of actually visiting Sycamore Gap itself – or what’s left of it.
We had put this off as it felt a bit sad but we had to face it before leaving.
It’s a short and very scenic walk from the village of Once Brewed, up to and then along in parallel with the surprisingly intact Roman Wall.
And going back to the question of its surprisingly enduring popularity, we saw more people here than on any rural outing.
It was still not exactly crowded but busier – and you realised that others too wanted to pay tribute to the lost tree, whether that was with a selfie or a quiet thought or two.
Even in this remote corner we weren’t far from not one but two decent pubs: The Twice Brewed Inn at Bardon Mill and The Milecastle Inn at Haltwhistle, both of which were delightful.
Visiting here is a way of putting two fingers up at the vile pair who are now languishing in prison, it’s also an absolute treat.
ONE of the UK’s prettiest seaside villages is losing one of it’s Christmas events for good.
Robin Hood’s Bay in North Yorkshire is holding its traditional Victorian Weekend event later this year – and it’s a very important one.
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The Christmas event in Robin Hood’s Bay will end this yearCredit: FacebookThe event sees locals and visitors dress up in Victorian outfitsCredit: Facebook
For over 30 years, locals and visitors have flocked to the seaside village in their period costumes to celebrate what’s known as Victorian Weekend.
Robin Hood’s Bay completely transforms to look as if it’s in the Victorian era – and it’s free to enter.
It’s a Christmas event too, so expect big festive trees, brass bands playing Christmas tunes, and stalls selling handmade gifts, mince pies and mulled wine.
There will also be games and plenty of mini-events will take place around the village.
Everyone gets into the spirit of it and you’ll feel like you’re in a Dickens novel seeing people dressed up as Victorian noblemen and women, to chimney sweeps.
There’s a best-dressed competition, so looks do matter on this occasion.
If you’re interested, then you need to visit this year, as unfortunately, the event will not be held again.
Over December 6-7, Robin Hood’s Bay will hold the final ever Victorian Weekend due to current organisers stepping down and there being no one to replace them.
The news was announced in October 2025 with a lengthy Facebook post that read: “After more than 30 years of tradition, fundraising, and community spirit, Victorian Weekend 2025 will mark the end of an era for Robin Hood’s Bay.”
It continued to add: “We hope you will join us to make the last Victorian Weekend truly memorable. Expect all your favourite traditions, plus some exciting new additions.”
The event is completely free and you can pop into local pubs and visit the gift stallsCredit: Facebook
The news was a sad shock to locals and visitors. In the comments, one wrote: “We’ll be deeply saddened to see it go after visiting it for 10 years or so. It’s become its own little self-contained Christmas in its own way.”
Another added: “This is such sad news. My husband and I have stayed at the Bay Inn every year for the past few years and the first time, purely by chance, it was the Victorian weekend.
“Since then we have come every year. Such huge amount of work. We love it. See you in December for the last one.”
Robin Hood’s Bay is a well-known fishing village known for being very beautiful as it sits on the edge of the water.
It has cobbled streets, that are car-free, and little stone cottages and shops.
The village has an interesting history too as during the 18th century, it was home to the busiest smuggling community on the Yorkshire coast.
There’s music and carol singing around the Christmas treeCredit: Facebook
Ships would stop there in the night to pass tobacco, tea and rum through secret tunnels underneath the cottages – some of which still exist today.
If you want to carry on exploring, you can head up to Whitby which is just 13 minutes away by car – and according to a UK seaside expert, is even better in winter.
“There are lots of great restaurants and lovely warm cafes in Whitby, and there’s also lots to see when you’re not battling with the crowds around the harbour.
“From long bracing walks along the beach to warm cafes and indoor attractions, there’s plenty to do in Whitby even in the winter.”
Set in Yorkshire, Whitby is known for its beaches and historical sites – although they can be quite busy during the warmer months.
THIS holiday home brings a new meaning to the phrase ‘beach break,’ as the property actually backs onto the sea.
The coastal retreat actually sits on the shingle beach, so you can bathe in the sun during the summer, or cosy on up with a cup of tea in the winter months.
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This holiday cottage opens out right onto the beach frontCredit: Sykes CottagesIt’s been awarded gold in Sykes Cottages ‘Gems Winners 2025’Credit: Sykes Cottages
Categories like ‘Best Farm Stay’ and ‘Best Newcomer’ were included, but the cottage called Bucket and Spades picked up ‘Best for Beaches’ – and Sophie revealed why it stood out to her.
She said: “When judging the Sykes Gems Awards, this property instantly stood out to me. Why? It’s its proximity to the beach. With bi-fold doors that open directly onto a pebble shore, but with your own private garden area, holidaymakers can benefit from a day at the seaside without needing to leave the home for the day.
“That’s a huge perk in my eyes. It reminds me a little of a beachside property in the Maldives that I once stayed in – I’d wake up and immediately plod into the open sea.”
The cottage literally sits on the beach at Pevensey Bay in pretty East Sussex and is set over three floors starting with the open plan lounge, kitchen diner, where you’ll find bifold doors that open onto the beach.
Outside, there’s a private beachside area with a table, parasol and stepping stones that lead out onto the wider beach.
There are two double bedrooms with ensuites and the king room which has a balcony where you can enjoy a morning coffee looking at the view.
Inside, the rooms have a coastal and calming feel filled with light tones of blue along with splashes of hot pink and orange.
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The cottage sleeps up to six guests, and there’s off-road parking for three cars – to bring along a pet dog costs an extra £40.
According to Sykes Cottages, if you book now, staying on Friday, November 7, 2025, for seven nights, you’ll be set back £1446 – but split between six guests, it’s £163.71pp, or £27.28pppn.
It even has a private beach area leading out to seaCredit: Sykes CottagesThe inside has nods to its coastal exterior with blue throws and rugsCredit: Sykes Cottages
It’s very popular too, one visitor wrote in a review: “If I owned this property I wouldn’t rent it out because I’d live there myself”.
They added: “The location is amazing, Pevensey Bay is a well kept secret. I don’t think I would ever get tired of staring out at the view.”
The cottage has a customer rating of 4.9 out of five stars and a top Sykes rating.
Pevensey Bay sits between Eastbourne and Hastings on the East Sussex coast and is an old fishing village.
It might look familiar to anyone who watched ITV‘s Flesh and Blood series in 2020 as it was used as a filming location along with the nearby town of Eastbourne.
The village is small but still has a local shop and places to eat like The Aqua Bar and Castle Inn.
One historical site nearby is Pevensey Castle built around AD290Credit: Alamy
When it comes to coastal adventures, guests can walk to reach Cooden Bay in one direction and Eastbourne Sovereign Harbour in the other.
Sovereign Harbour has The Waterfront’s bars, restaurants and cafés with views out to the marina.
Further inland is the village of Westham, which is home to the Castle Cottage Tearoom, and as the name suggests, it sits right next to Pevensey Castle.
Pick up a slice of homemade cake, or enjoy a traditional cream tea for £8.20, or opt for sandwiches or toasted paninis instead.
Other nearby spots include Beachy Head, which is where you’ll find Britain’s highest chalk cliff with incredible panoramic views out to sea.
There is also a small area for toddlers to explore.
The only bad news is that Hermit’s Cafe and on-site toilets which is located within the woodland playground will close.
It’s a popular spot for families, especially during the warmer weather with one mum writing on Tripadvisor that it’s the best place for a “perfect day out with the kids“.
Another said: “The walk is lovely not huge but the kids loved it, log walking, making dens, and they loved the woodland climbing.”
The climbing area is open between 10am until 4pm each day.
Aside from the climbing frame, there’s plenty to do in Coombe Abbey Park as it has plenty of woodland and lakeside walks as well as other activities, and even Go Ape.
There’s plenty to do on the 500 acres of Coombe Abbey ParkCredit: http://www.coombeabbey.comThere’s a hotel there too with pretty gardens and a pondCredit: Alamy
The adventure chain is found within the grounds and there’s plenty to do from Treetop challenges, to axe throwing, archery, drivingmini land rovers.
Or head closer to the huge Coombe Abbey Hotel where you can stroll around the pruned gardens and mazes.
Visitors can pop into Café in the Park at Coombe Abbey where they serve up breakfast offerings from the ‘Full Park Breakfast’.
There are as well as toasties, sandwiches, jacket potatoes, or main meals like fish and chips, chilli and there’s a dedicated kid’s menu.
Coventry itself has been labelled as an ‘underrated’ city in the UK, and it’s seeing an increase in the number of tourists.
Some of the biggest attractions there include The Wave in Coventry which is an enormous indoor waterpark with one of the biggest wave pools in the country.
It has six water slides, one being The Crestar, which has two giant spheres with lighting effects.
The Cascade is another ride at the waterpark, as is The Torrent, which is a ride where the floor drops from beneath – and is arguably one of the scariest rides.
The Rapids, which has been described as the “Big Dipper on water”, is the park’s water coaster, where powerful jets hurl riders uphill before dropping them down through tight corners and tunnels.
One writer reveals what his stay at the Coombe Abbey Hotel was like…
On 500 acres of renowned beauty, this historic hotel is in Coventry situated in Coombe Abbey’s Country Park, just off the M6.
What is it like?
Next time somebody wants to send you to Coventry, stay at this complex, which dates back to 1150 and has links to royalty, the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII and the Gunpowder plot. Enjoy a view of the moat, the lake and the courtyard to the Capability Brown designed gardens, depending on where you are in the hotel.
What is there to do at the hotel?
The corridors and communal rooms are packed with artefacts, art, history and heritage, that are well worth exploring as you wander from bar to room to
restaurant, while the scenic lake, gardens and grounds are perfect for a stroll.
Enjoy one of the many choices of afternoon tea, from Abbot’s Afternoon Tea to Sparkling Afternoon Tea as a post-walk treat. For kids, you can discover Go Ape in the woodlands.
What is there to eat and drink?
Unless you want to drive, you’d better eat here as it’s about a ten-minute walk to the edge of the grounds and some way beyond that to any restaurants. That being said, you really do want to eat here. The ambience is classy, the food is great, and the breakfast really sets you up for the day.
The dinner menu features meaty dishes of beef shin with fondant potato and confit duck leg with spiced braised cabbage, as well as vegan, vegetarian and fish options.
What are the rooms like?
The minimum standard in basic rooms is real quality and comfort, while the decor and design in the feature heritage rooms are charming and characterful. Rooms start from £149 a night based on two sharing.
TWISTING the handles of his personal periscope around, my son Billy lets out an excited gasp.
Through the lens he’s able to catch a glimpse of the rollercoasters and colourful rides that await him at Chessington World of Adventures, right on the doorstep of our hotel.
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The Paw Patrol gang cut looseCredit: AlamyOne of the five Paw Patrol roomsCredit: Chris Read-Jones/Chessington World Of AdventuresThe Sun’s Lydia Major and son BillyCredit: Supplied
I’m staying in one of the theme park’s new Paw Patrol-themed rooms, offered up just in time for half term.
Part of Chessington’s Safari Resort hotel, the five new pup-tastic bedrooms offer a glimpse of what’s to come when a new Paw Patrol-themed land opens next spring.
Nothing has been spared on making these spaces as immersive as possible.
Funky bunk beds have been disguised as the famous Paw Patroller truck featured in the show, with a driver’s seat at the front and a steering wheel that little ones can play with.
A yellow periscope in the main room, that fans will recognise as a replica of that from the Paw Patrol Lookout Tower, is surrounded by coloured bean bags which kids can plonk themselves on when spying on the theme park.
And if the view from the periscope isn’t enough to impress them, the bedroom window one will be.
Rooms overlook the park’s Wanyama Reserve, and one afternoon we were treated to the sight of two giraffes munching away on their leafy dinner.
I was grateful for some tranquillity to balance out the “wow” of the all-singing, all-dancing bedroom.
The decor here is bold and bright, with huge murals of the pups showing their wacky adventures.
Rooms sleep up to two adults, in a plump double bed, and three children.
They also come with a special Paw Patrol parking outside.
Even when you’re dining at one of the two restaurants, you’re likely to bump into your little ones’ favourite character.
As Billy tucked into his junior Wanyama burger (£7) at dinner, he clocked Skye giving some of her fans a high-five and a cuddle across the room.
If you don’t get to meet your hero at the hotel, Paw Patrol guests can nab fast-track entry to daily meet-and-greets with Chase, Skye and Rubble in the park.
A night’s stay comes with a huge buffet breakfast – which has everything from a full English to pancakes and pastries and is available from 7am to 10am.
Access to the hotel’s Savannah Splash Pool means children can burn off any extra energy.
After an action-packed day here, adults will be just as grateful for the ultra-comfy beds as the kids are.
Paw Patrol stays start from £155 for a family of four, including bed and breakfast. Stays include early ride access, a Pup Pass (meet-and-greet fast track pass) and a Reserve & Ride one-shot pass.
Guests staying before the Paw Patrol-themed land opens will have a chance to be one of the first to ride the new rollercoaster in 2026.
FANCY a bit of the royal treatment? I know just the, er, palace.
The Mazagan Beach and Golf Resort on Morocco’s north-west coast is regal in both size and design.
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The Mazagan Beach and Golf Resort, MoroccoCredit: SuppliedRick’s Cafe replica bar inspired from the iconic flick CasablancaCredit: AlamyA giant bed and sea view at MazaganCredit: Supplied
With its dreamy arches and soaring ceilings, traditional Zellij tiling, tree-lined atrium and central courtyards, this five-star wonder is truly fit for royalty.
Inside, everything smells of rich orange blossom. You could get lost here. In fact, you want to.
Pop princess Paloma Faith stayed here with her family this year and Moroccan golf star Ayoub Lguirati — winner of the first Arab World Professional Championship in 2023 — often plays the resort’s beachfront course designed by one of the sport’s greats, Gary Player.
Oh, and now I was there.
The 500-room Mazagan is so grand that it is home to one of North Africa’s largest casinos — and one evening, my friends and I joined the guests trying their luck on its 37 gaming tables, 80 roulettes wheels and 370 slot machines.
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Good news for risk-takers is that the casino stays open 23 hours a day, so this hotel almost never sleeps.
But as amateurs, we didn’t fancy losing a king’s ransom on Blackjack, so moved on to the 1940s-themed Studio 42 lounge bar next door which is swathed in royal-green velvet drapes.
It has live music at weekends and serves glam cocktails including a homemade rosé liquor and gin concoction for £10, or local beer from £5.50, so is a sure bet for a nightcap or two.
When it came time to hit the hay, my ocean-view room was similar in its grandeur to the rest of the hotel, with traditional metal hanging lanterns, dark-wood furniture, and a bed that could fit a family of four.
Thankfully, 80 per cent of the rooms are connecting, so parents do not have to share with little ’uns.
Even with the balconette doors to my room closed, I could hear the inviting roar of the Atlantic Ocean.
It is safe to swim here — there’s a lifeguard during the day — but you can also rent paddle and bodyboards, or make the most of the swell with surf lessons.
Even in late September, temperatures in El Jadida can reach 30C.
Animal-lovers will enjoy a trip to the Mazagan’s farm, which has goats, cows and chickens. Its beachfront stables are immaculately maintained and the horses and ponies have shiny, glowing coats.
Riding on the beach has been on my bucket list for as long as I can remember, so on an unusually grey afternoon I climbed on to a palomino-coloured mare called Rosa and headed for the shore.
She trotted along Haouzia Beach, steadily swerving the incoming tide, as I sat back — nay, upright — to enjoy the view. The next day, for something more fast-paced, our group zoomed along the sand — thankfully flat — on quad bikes.
The Mazagan also has laser games, go-karting, paintballing, a 22ft climbing wall, archery, a gym, and pickleball and tennis courts. There are daytime clubs for both kids and teens, too.
But a holiday in Morocco calls for a spot of haggling in the medina — and just the place for that is Casablanca which is the country’s largest, most cosmopolitan city, just an hour’s drive from the hotel.
Built in the early 19th century by the French, the New Medina is smaller and less chaotic than its walled older counterpart but just as authentic.
We find everything from artisan teapots and pottery, leather bags and hand-woven Berber rugs, to stalls piled high with native olives for a fraction of what we would pay at home.
Casablanca also has a striking mix of religious buildings, owing to its colonial history.
Many of these, such as the monumental Hassan II Mosque on the city’s promenade, offer guided tours.
Arabesque carvings
The Hassan II Mosque is a gem — with the world’s second-tallest minaret at 689ft and an elaborately decorated prayer room which can fit 20,000 worshippers.
As is customary if entering a mosque, we removed our shoes.
Our guide then recounted tales of its craftmanship as we quietly admired the stonework, arabesque carvings, Murano glass chandeliers, and titanium doors weighing several tonnes.
It’s always cocktail time at MazaganCredit: SuppliedThe stunning Hassan II Mosque in CasblancaCredit: Getty
For many Brits, though, Casablanca will conjure memories of Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman’s 1942 film — although the wartime classic was actually filmed in Hollywood.
Disappointed to discover Rick’s Cafe from the film did not exist, an American woman opened a replica bar, with grand piano and Moroccan hanging lanterns, in the Old Medina in 2004.
“Of all the gins joints in all the towns”, to quote from the film, this one was well worth walking into for a boozy pit-stop on the way back to the Mazagan.
But, of course, there’s nothing wrong with spending a week simply lazing beside the resort’s lagoon-style pool, having treatments in its award-winning spa and eating and drinking like royalty in its 13 restaurants and bars.
Horse riders on Haouzia BeachCredit: SuppliedFor many Brits Casablanca will conjure memories of Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman’s 1942 filmCredit: Alamy
The Market Place evening buffet offers an abundance of local and international dishes, from salads to saffron slow-cooked lamb, shawarma and a wok station.
Or the hotel’s jewel in the crown, the dimly lit Bushra restaurant, serves up Middle Eastern dishes and a live band to its impressively receptive diners.
Sat under gigantic brass chandeliers and dramatic drapes, even the grannies sang and clapped cheerily between mouthfuls of hummus with beef fillet, grilled jumbo shrimps and the most tender slow-cooked lamb.
Just like the flavours, the service is five-star — waiter Wafae deserves mention.
But I had my favourite-ever starter in Sel de Mer.
The nautically-themed seafood restaurant has an extraordinary signature dish of blue lobster salad with fennel remoulade and mustard jus. At £26, it is not cheap, but lobster never is.
I could get used to living like a queen.
Hayley Doyle at the stablesCredit: Supplied
GO: MOROCCO
GETTING THERE: Royal Air Maroc offers daily direct flights from Heathrow to Casablanca with fares from £250, including 23kg luggage.
YOU’RE in the Alps for a ski holiday – you’ve got your gear, your lift pass and the optimism that you won’t wipe out on a blue run as kids whizz past you.
But what if skiing on a skiing holiday is optional?
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Alpine Glasto gets in the swingCredit: GettyDJs get the crowd goingCredit: Gwilym Thomas
What if there’s an Alpine world that doesn’t require you to throw yourself downhill at speed?
The wild and wonderful phenomenon of après-ski only gears up after the lifts stop — and the party gets going.
Après-ski is no small affair — this is not just drinks before dinner.
In the Three Valleys area of the French Alps, après is a daily festival and feels like a way of life.
Picture this: a live band steps on stage ahead of a DJ surrounded by strobe lights, crowds are dancing on the tables (in ski boots) and bobble hats are thrown in the air.
This melee of strangers is swaying together, drinks in hand, as revellers sing at the top of their lungs.
This is a kind of Alpine Glastonbury, where people swap flower crowns and flags for puffer jackets and goggles.
And the best part? You don’t have to ski or snowboard to enjoy it.
The Three Valleys is known for some of the best slopes in the world, with almost 600km of pistes, as high as 3,000 metres, to pick from.
But interconnected Valleys resorts Méribel, Courchevel and Val Thorens also showcase thousands of music gigs.
The magic is thanks to London and Méribel-based agency Après Ski Bands, which books more than 3,500 such events per season across 130 venues.
These aren’t bog-standard cover bands — they’re high-energy pros, picked in X Factor-style auditions in the UK, who turn ski resorts into concert venues during winter.
In five days in the Alps, I saw nine superb acts without even trying — starting with party band Magnolia, ending with DJ and MC duo Rio & Rhymes and acts in between including emerging alt-rock talent Pattern Pusher and diverse après heroes The Wingmen.
For folk fans, there’s guitarist Chris Quinn, who opened for the Jools Holland Orchestra, and singer-songwriter Albert Jones, who appeared on BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend.
Performing in the Alps is hard graft, as musicians play up to 140 dates in a single season.
At Lodge Du Village in Méribel alone, there are 900 live gigs each winter — with Mondays to Wednesdays often wilder than Saturday nights (free shots for those who arrive early).
Le Rond Point — or Ronnie — in Méribel is one of those places where you show up for one drink and suddenly it’s four hours later, and you’re leading a conga line and wearing someone else’s unicorn onesie.
And let’s not forget ultra-Insta La Folie Douce, a venue likened to Ibiza in the snow. If it sounds like an attack on the senses, that’s because it is.
But if partying isn’t really your thing, there are other things on offer in the Valleys.
For a touch of luxury, hit a hotel spa or soak in your chalet’s outdoor hot tub with a glass of fizz, watching skiers from a distance.
If you want to be on the white stuff minus the face-planting, then snowshoeing or sled-dog walking are great for exploring at a gentle pace.
Then, of course, there is the ultimate Alpine sport — eating.
Revellers get ready for the apres-ski bashCredit: Supplied
Food here is an attraction in itself, with Méribel’s Le Cro Magnon and La Terrasse du Village delivering everything from hearty Savoyard to refined French-British fusion.
If you come to the Alps and don’t eat fondue, tartiflette or raclette, did you even visit the Alps?
And now it’s not just a winter thing, with resorts shifting towards year-round tourism, meaning the party doesn’t stop when the snow starts to melt in April.
Whether you’re dancing on tables, belting out rock anthems with a crowd of strangers, exploring snowy forests, or eating your bodyweight in cheese, you’ve made it down a black run to holiday heaven.
GO: THREE VALLEYS
GETTING THERE: Private transfers from Geneva Airport to Meribel cost from £59.50pp for a group of four people.
STAYING THERE: Seven nights’ self-catering at the Chalet Rosa Apartment in Meribel Village, just a couple of minutes from the piste and La Terrace du Village, costs from £258.34pp, based on six sharing in low season.
From gorgeous Getxo to the City of Love, you won’t want to come home from these mint mini-breaks
Find foodie heaven near BilbaoCredit: Supplied by PR
SPAIN – Palacio Arriluce Hotel, Getxo
Commissioning Editor Martha Cliff and fiancée Lauren found foodie heaven near Bilbao.
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THE PAD
Check in and zone out at the Palacio Arriluce
Perched on a striking cliffside overlooking the Bay of Abra in Getxo and with a beauty of an outdoor pool, this 18th-century boutique gem sits in a palatial setting and offers the perfect blend of historical charm and contemporary elegance.
Craving vistas of the rolling Basque mountains? You’ve got it. Want to gaze at boats bobbing in the harbour? No problem. A city view more your vibe? It’s got that, too.
Be sure to eat breakfast – think other-worldly Spanish tortilla and Iberico ham – on the terrace to take full advantage.
Meanwhile, come dinner at Delaunay, try local specialities such as grilled kokotxas (hake chin) on stewed spider crab, £35, and Iberian pork shoulder with passionfruit, £31.
Make sure you’re there on a Thursday to join locals in Getxo for “pintxo pote”, a foodie’s dream bar crawl and Basque country tradition.
Restaurante Ixta Bide offers four pintxos (small savoury snacks) – our fave was pintxo de txaka, akin to a mini crab sandwich – and two vinos for a mere £9.
Just don’t expect to bag a seat! Wind your way up the steps of Algorta to reach Arrantzale and finish on its perfectly salted pork belly (Arrantzale.com).
While day-tripping, step into one of Bilbao’s oldest bars, Café Iruña, just a hop from Arbando metro station.
Dating back to 1903, the beautiful tiling is reason enough to visit, but coffee for just £1.75, is a big pull, too.
Or opt for a glass of the local txakoli white wine, £2.70, instead (Cafeirunabilbao.com).
DON’T MISS
The works inside Bilbao’s Guggenheim Museum are, of course, breathtaking, but the building itself and its surrounding sculptures – including Puppy, a massive dog made of flowers by American artist Jeff Koons – are worth the trip alone.
Fly to Bilbao from London Gatwick and Heathrow with Vueling from £56 return (Vueling.com).
FRANCE – Hôtel Dame des Arts, Paris
Creative Director Mark Hayman and wife Margaret fell for cocktails and culture in the French capital.
Fall for cocktails and culture in the French capitalCredit: Getty Images
THE PAD
Rest easy at Hôtel Dame des ArtsCredit: LUDOVIC BALAY
This sleek bolt-hole in the city’s Latin Quarter has shaken off its Holiday Inn past to channel full Hollywood glamour.
Think rich woods, bamboo accents and pretty palms, with rooms that feel like film sets, thanks to glass dividers, velvet finishes and luxe bathrooms made for long soaks.
Downstairs, Pimpan serves up bold Franco-Mexican fusions on a leafy terrace – highlights include beef tartare with piquillos, £12.50, lamb shoulder with harissa, £25, and hibiscus-poached pear, £11.
But the real scene-stealer is the rooftop bar, where 360-degree skyline views stretch from the Eiffel Tower to Sacré Cœur – even locals come here for the vistas.
Order a Spritz del Arte (Aperol, mango liqueur, rum and prosecco), £17, or the punchy Uno Mas margarita, £14, pop on your biggest sunglasses and watch the city turn blush at sunset.
There’s also a sauna and a gym kitted out with sculptural wooden equipment for those partial to a designer workout.
EXPLORE
Explore the history of Notre-DameCredit: Getty Images
First time in Paris? Glide down the Seine aboard the Batobus – this hop-on-hop-off riverboat is a relaxing (and photogenic) way to tick off major sights like the Musée d’Orsay and the Louvre.
For more treasure-hunting, swing by the flea market off Rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine – a weekend haven of vintage mirrors, mid-century ceramics and nostalgic postcards.
There’s no entry fee, just bring cash and your best haggling game.
Then head to the Panthéon, a neoclassical gem where Voltaire, Rousseau and Marie Curie lie in dramatic crypts beneath a rooftop dome offering jaw-dropping views.
Lively, retro-chic Brasserie Dubillot’s espresso martinis, £10.50, are a must, but equally good is the sausage and mash with truffle sauce, £16, steak-frites, £21, and the perfect crème brûlée, £8 (Lanouvellegarde.com/brasserie-dubillot).
Craving something casual? PNY serves next-level burgers with aged beef, brioche buns and toppings like smoked cheddar and pickled jalapeños, from £11.50 (Pnyburger.com).
Or just nab a pavement perch at Café Saint-André for a croque monsieur, £10.50, a glass of sancerre, £7, and some world-class people-watching.
Double rooms at Hôtel Dame des Arts cost from £226 per night (Damedesarts.com).
Psst…
Fancy something a little more party? Rixos Premium Dubai JBR sits in one of the UAE city’s buzziest neighbourhoods, with captivating views of Ain Dubai, the world’s biggest ferris wheel.
Suave rooms come with huge tubs, rain showers and espresso machines, from £304 per night (Rixos.com).
Rixos Premium Dubai JBR sits in one of the UAE city’s buzziest neighbourhoodsCredit: SuppliedThe suave rooms have captivating views of Ain Dubai, the world’s biggest ferris wheelCredit: SuppliedHead to Aussie beach club Byron Bathers for great foodCredit: Byron Bathers Club/Instagram
Downstairs is Azure Beach Club with its large pool, pumping soundtrack, outdoor gym and private beach (Azure-beach.com/dubai).
The breakfast buffet is, in true Dubai style, eye-poppingly big – you can even blend your own fresh peanut butter.
Plus, you’re half an hour’s cab ride from the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, for that classic Dubai selfie – viewing platform visits cost from £37 per person (Burjkhalifa.ae).
When you’re craving a chilled day, head to Aussie beach club Byron Bathers for lobster linguine, £37, and burrata pizza, £17, with excellent Whitsunday spritzes – an exquisite blend of grapefruit bitters, strawberry shrub, pink grapefruit, citrus vodka, Aperol and prosecco, £14 (Byronbathers.com).
